New Southern Voices Poetry Prize

The New Southern Voices Poetry Book Prize is open to all Southern poets with no more than one previously published full-length collection. Submitters must currently reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia or West Virginia, and must have resided there for a minimum of 24 consecutive months. The winner will receive $1000 and publication by Hub City Press.

Submit Here

Submissions: January 1 - April 17 biennially (opens 2025)
Current judge: Derrick Austin

A $25 submission fee will accompany each submission. Manuscripts will be taken through online submission only. All manuscripts will be read anonymously by paid screeners. This contest is guided by the CLMP Code of Ethics.

Previous Judges

2023: Molly McCully Brown
2021: Gabrielle Calvocoressi

2019: G.C. Waldrep

2017: Sean Hill

2015: C.D. Wright

2013: D.A .Powell

Previous Winners

2023: Emilie Menzel - The Girl Who Became A Rabbit
2021: Marlanda Dekine - Thresh & Hold

2019: Megan Denton Ray - Mustard, Milk, and Gin

2017: Lindsey Alexander - Rodeo in Reverse

2015: J.K. Daniels - Wedding Pulls

2013: Lilah Hegnauer - Pantry

Eligibility:

Submitters must currently reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia or West Virginia and have resided there for a minimum of 24 consecutive months. (Residency will be verified before prize winner is announced.)
Submitters may have published no more than one previous book or have no more than one book under contract at another publisher.
Submitters must not be affiliated with Hub City Press or Hub City Writers Project as a staff member or volunteer or as previously published Hub City author. Close friends, relatives, students or former students of the final judge are not eligible.

Submission Guidelines:

Hub City Press will accept typed poetry manuscript submissions between January 1 and 11:59PM April 17. The winner is announced in the summer.
Manuscripts should be 48-120 pages, 12 point Times New Roman or similar typeface.
Simultaneous submissions of the same manuscript to other publishers or contests are acceptable but please notify us by email (submit@hubcity.org) if your manuscript has been accepted elsewhere.
While translations and manuscripts in languages other than English are not acceptable, manuscripts that occasionally use words from other languages are acceptable and welcome.
No revisions of submitted manuscripts will be allowed during the contest.
This contest is read blind. Do not include a bio or acknowledgements page with your manuscript. All manuscripts must be read anonymously by our readers, editors, and judge. Manuscripts should include one title page with the manuscript’s title only. You may also include a table of contents. Manuscripts that do not adhere to this guideline will be immediately eliminated.

FAQ

I have never published a collection of poetry before. Am I eligible?

Yes! The New Southern Voices Poetry Book Prize is meant for emerging writers who either have never published a collection or have a maximum of one previously published poetry collection.

I was born in / grew up in / attended school in one of the 11 states listed, but have since moved away. Am I eligible?

Unfortunately, no. The contest is open only to writers currently living in the Southern states listed in the guidelines. If you don't currently live in one of those states you are ineligible for the prize. You must currently live in one of the listed Southern states and have lived there for 24 consecutive months.

I have lived in two of the listed states (for example: North and South Carolina) in the last 24 months. Am I eligible?

Yes! As long as you've lived in the South, moving between states is fine.

Questions?

If your question is not answered above, email kate@hubcity.org.